Sales of new vehicles have been rising for the last eight months, although the trend figures show the rate of growth slowed in January 2002 to 1.9% over the previous month, according to a new publication released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.The publication,Sales ofNew Motor Vehicles, Electronic Publication,(cat. no. 9314.0) replaces the new motor vehicle registrations statistical series and draws on actual sales data provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

Passenger vehicle sales have been rising for the last six months with the growth rate remaining steady at around 2.1% over the last three, according to trend figures. Sales of other vehicles have also continued rising over the last nine months. However, the rate of growth for other vehicles fell from 2.1% in December to 1.6% in January. The trend level for total vehicle sales has risen in all States and Territories for at least the last six months.

Seasonally adjusted sales of new vehicles rose by almost 10% in January 2002, with passenger vehicles up by 5% and other vehicles up by 21%. Sales for January 2002 were 15% higher then the previous year. All States and Territories with the exception of Western Australia experienced an increase in sales in January. The fall in Western Australia followed a larger than normal increase in December.

The new publication provides monthly information on sales of new motor vehicles (passenger vehicles, other vehicles and total vehicles) at the State/Territory and National levels in original, seasonally adjusted and trend terms.

Sales of New Motor Vehicles, January 2002

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.

Vehicle Sales

Seasonally Adjusted

25,954

20,074

13,478

4,894

6,629

1,358

721

1,255

74,363

Trend

24,289

19,205

12,504

4,463

6,453

1,354

671

1,205

70,144

Percentage change from previous month

Seasonally Adjusted

12.2

4.8

16.7

17.9

-1.4

5.5

19.2

21.7

9.9

Trend

1.6

1.8

2.2

2.6

2.6

3.3

2.0

1.1

1.9

Percentage change from previous year

Seasonally Adjusted

14.2

11.0

19.7

26.4

14.0

6.5

12.5

22.3

14.6

Trend

5.0

6.7

8.7

9.7

8.6

7.0

8.1

-2.7

6.7

Media please note:

Sales ofNew Motor Vehicles, Electronic Publication,(cat. no. 9314.0) draws on data from the VFACTS collection produced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). The reliability and accuracy of the FCAI data prompted the ABS to replace registrations data (commonly used as a proxy for vehicle sales) with actual sales data. The ABS has used original data from VFACTS and created seasonally adjusted and trend time series on a monthly basis from January 1994 for comparative purposes. More details are contained in the publication.

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